Coin-depositing apparatus.



Patented Nov; 25, 1902;

s. F. LEHBKE. com DEPOSITING APPARATUS.

(Application flled. June 1, 1901.)

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' ,UNITED STATES -AT FI CE.

GUSTAV F. LEH RKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CQlN-DEPOSITING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 714,587, dated November 25, 1902.

Application filed June I 1901. Serial No. 62,700. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV F. LEHRKE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Depositing Apparatus; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for receiving and depositing coins or tokens in sealed receptacles,whereby the coin cannot be abstracted or any kind of instrument inserted to derange the mechanism or give false signals.

My improvement consists in a horizontal reciprocating plunger located in a vestibule of the closed receptacle transversely slotted to permit a coin or token to pass through it, an inlet-slot in the vestibule that registers with that in the reciprocating plunger in its outward or normal position, and a dischargeslot that registers with that in the plunger when the latter is at its inward position, hinged electrodes that contact the coinsor tokens as they fall from the plunger to a receptacle below, giving a signal for the deposit; also consists in various novel parts and their arrangement, as hereinafter set forth in the description to follow.

' The object of my invention is to prevent successful tampering with coin-deposito ries of any kind, especially pay-telephones, and prevent contacting electric signals by means other than inserting a coin or token.

To this end I provide apparatus as illustrated in the drawings herewith and forming a part of this specification, the different figures representing as follows:

Figure I is a vertical section through a coindepository embodying my invention, the operating parts being in position to receive a coin. Fig. II is a partial and similar section showing thesame operating parts when in position to deposit a coin. Fig. III is a vertical section through Fig. I on the line a a. FigIV is a partial front View of the same depository with the front covering-plate removed. Fig. V is a side view of the pivoted electrodes detached. Fig. VI is a plan or top view of Fig. V. To illustrate my invention, I have chosen a common depository for coins, such as is employed in the case of pay-telephones, to which my invention is especially applicable.

Referring to the drawings and to the numerals of reference thereon, 1-is a containingcase in which the various parts are mounted, 2 a removable till to contain coins or tokens deposited, and 3 the movable plunger that re- The electrodes 5 are pivoted at 7 and are operated by the falling coin 4, as indicated in Fig. IV, contacting these latter at 8 and closing an electric circuit to give a signal for each coin deposited in the till 2. The plunger 3 has a transverse slot 9, large enough to pass a particular coin or corresponding token, is pushed back by the stem 10, and when released moves forward by action of the spring 12. When in its forward or normal position, as in Fig. I, the slot 9 in the plunger 3 is opposite the orifice 13, and a coin 4 when dropped into this slot falls to the position seen in Fig. I. The plunger 3 is then pushed back to the position seen in Fig. II, and the. coin at drops through the slot 14 at the bottom behind the guide 15 into the till 2, as seen in Fig. I. As the coin 4 drops down past the guide 15 it comes in contact with the electrodes 5, spreads these at the bottom and closes them at the top, contacting at 8, closing an electric circuit through the insulated wires 17 and giving a signal by a bell-indicator or otherwise to show that a coin has been deposited. The upper ends of the electrodes 5 are made heavy enough to hold them by gravity in an extended position, as seen in Fig. III. When the plunger 3 is moved back, as in Fig. II, the electrodes 5 slide on a block 19, of wood or other non-conducting material. This also insulates the guide 15, attached thereto. The block 19 is supported by a bar 20, attached to the rear end of the plunger 3, which passes through a slot 22 in the main frame 1, keeping the plunger 3 from turning in its seat. In this manner it will be seen that the slot 9 cannot register with the passages 13 and 14 at the same time and that no access can be gained to the electrodes 5, even by a fine wire.

The electrodes 5 are pivoted to a plate 23, which is secured tothe casing surrounding the plunger, said plate being adapted to fit against a circular seat, as in Fig. III, or a flat seat, as in Fig. IV, one representing a metal and the other a wooden structure.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In coin-depositing apparatus, in combination, a closed receptacle, a vestibule thereto, having a coin-inlet slot to the vestibule and an inner coin-discharge slot between the vestibule and the closed receptacle, said coinslots being out of alinement, a reciprocating spring-plungerin said vestibule havinga coinslot therein, in alinement with the coin-inlet slot in the outward position of the plunger, and with the inner coin-discharge slot in the inward position of the plunger, a sliding nonconductive block beneath said inner coin-discharge slot, carried by said plunger, with attached guide-plate, and pivoted electrodes arranged beneath said inner coin-slot, whereby an electrical contact is made when a coin passes through said inner slot, to pass an electric signal, substantially as specified.

2. In coin-depositing apparatus, in combination, a closed receptacle, a vestibule thereto, having a coin-inlet slot-to the vestibule and an inner coin-discharge slot between the vestibule and the closed receptacle, said coinslots being out of alinement, a reciprocating spring-plunger in said vestibule having a coinslot therein, in alineinent with the coin-inlet slot in the outward position of the plunger, and with the inner coin-discharge slot in the inward position of the plunger, a movable insulated guide attached to said plunger, and pivoted electrodes beneath said inner coindischarge slot within the path of the entering coin whereby an electrical contact is made by the passing coin to pass an electric signal, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the" presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV F. LEHR'KE.

Witnesses:

. ALFRED A. ENQUIST,

ELMER WIOKES. 

